TripleThreat1 Read Online Free

Assistant? But, that’s my job, love.”
    Archer stepped away from the embrace and took my hand,
leading me to sit beside him on the couch. “I’ve been thinking about this for
some time, I just wasn’t sure how to bring it up. I thought surprise would be
best.”
    A slow burn started deep in my gut and I wondered if I was
going throw up right here or if I’d be able to hold on long enough to get to
the bathroom. I locked my jaw against the questions that fought to be asked.
His play—I would wait.
    “I see.” I don’t know why I said that—stalling for time, I
guess. This simply wasn’t possible.
    Archer smiled, as if pleased by my reasonableness. “Walker
already drew up the necessary papers, with legal protection for both sides. The
compensation is more than adequate.” He patted my hand.
    I’d never seen it coming. To say I was stunned was an
understatement of epic proportions. Devastated. Shattered. Dying. Yeah, those
worked better. Realizing there was really nothing for me to say, I stood,
suddenly anxious to get going. If this ended here, then I needed to leave
before I lost it completely.
    “Zachary?”
    I shook my head and left. I made it two steps before Archer
caught my arm in a strong grip and jerked me around to face him.
    “Zachary? Did something happen while you were gone? I should
have asked if everything went all right on your interviews, but—Jesus.” With his
hands still tight on my wrists, he examined my face. I blinked furiously
against the sudden stinging in my eyes.
    “Zach…baby…what’s the matter? Are you hurt?”
    I tried to turn away so I wouldn’t see the stormy blue-green
eyes, the face I knew better than my own. I had no words…I just wanted to be
gone. Yeah, I was acting like a fucking girl. So what? This man had been
my life for the last fifteen years.
    There was a long pause before Archer’s grip on my arm
loosened and I jerked back. Long, strong fingers seized my jaw and tilted my
chin up. “Look at me.”
    The deep rumble in his voice compelled me to do as ordered.
His face had gone pale, the tic at the corner of his left eye and the tight
muscles of his jaw showed me just how truly angry Archer was. For a long
minute, neither of us moved. Then on a sigh, he pulled me to him and enveloped
me in his arms, holding me so tight I struggled to breathe.
    “Never. I will never let you go. You are mine . Dear
God, Zachary, don’t you know that after all this time?”
    “But I thought—” My gaze cut to the door, thinking about the
men waiting outside… “You said there were legal documents and compensation. And
what the hell? I’m your personal assistant. I thought—”
    “Yes, I can see how it might have sounded—to someone who
didn’t know me as well as you should. Obviously I’ve been remiss in making you
realize just how equal our partnership is. Zachary, I am hiring someone. You
are not my staff. We are partners in every way. I always assumed you understood
what is mine is yours. We do have a partnership agreement…”
    “That’s business—” I was feeling stupid. Of course Archer
loved me. Except… “Archer, if nothing is wrong, why have I sensed
this…distance between us? It’s almost as if you’re keeping something back.”
    He tugged on my arm and led me back to the couch, and we sat
turned sideways to face each other. “I suspect you’ve been picking up on my
secretiveness about this surprise. I was trying to do something nice and
instead I’ve managed to undermine that which is good between us. Let’s start
over.”
    Clearing his throat, Archer patted my hand. “I am hiring a
personal assistant—this one will belong to both of us.”
    “Belong?” I was still feeling off-balance and something
about the careful phrasing had me waiting for the other shoe to drop.
    Archer smiled. “You know what I mean.”
    “No…I don’t think I do.” I wasn’t trying to be obtuse, but
that didn’t stop the flicker of annoyance that flashed